For parents
AI for parents, without the panic.
You do not need to be technical to guide a child through AI. Learn the few things that matter, which are what chatbots are, what scams and fakes look like, and what data to keep private, then talk about it often. This free path starts there.
- 1What is AI?
- 2How to Explain AI to Young Kids
- 3Talking to Teens About AI Companion Apps
- 4Parental Controls for AI Chatbots
A voice message requests a sensitive account change. How should the recipient verify it?
- AContact the person through a trusted channel already on record
- BUse contact details included in the suspicious message
- CTreat voice similarity as sufficient proof
- DAsk the sender to repeat the request
From the Deepfakes Quiz
- 6guides in your path
- 4free quizzes to check it
- Freefrom a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Learning path
Your parent path
Six guides, from basics to the conversations that matter most.
- 1FundamentalsWhat is AI?Understand the tools your child is already hearing about.
- 2FundamentalsHow to Explain AI to Young KidsAge-appropriate ways to explain it.
- 3SocietyTalking to Teens About AI Companion AppsWhat to know about chatbots built to feel like friends.
- 4ApplicationsParental Controls for AI ChatbotsWhat settings can and cannot do.
- 5SocietyAI Voice Cloning Scams and How to Protect YourselfHow a cloned voice can be used against families.
- 6Visual AITeaching Kids to Spot AI-Generated ImagesBuild the habit of checking before believing.
Prefer a structured course?
Quizzes
Quick quizzes to try with your family
Take these together. They are short, free and explain each answer.
Kids' safety
Know where the real risks are
Most families do not need to ban AI. They need to know which uses deserve extra care and set a few clear habits.
- Companion chatbotsApps designed to act like a friend can encourage long, private conversations. Ask your teen what they use and why, without punishment.Talking to teens
- Settings and controlsParental controls help, but they are not a substitute for conversation. Learn what they cover on popular chatbots.Parental controls
- Young childrenSmart speakers and AI toys listen and respond. Decide what is in the room before they arrive.AI toys
- The rules around itLaws on children and chatbots are changing. Our guide explains the landscape in plain English.Online safety laws
Deepfakes and scams
Fakes, cloned voices and how to check
AI can imitate faces and voices. The best defense is a calm habit of verifying through a second channel.
- Agree on a family code wordA phrase only your family knows lets you confirm an urgent call from a loved one, even if the voice sounds right.Voice-clone scams
- Pause on urgencyScams push speed and secrecy. Hang up, then call back on a number you already have.Phishing and AI
- Spot manipulated imagesPractice with your kids: look at hands, text, lighting and context, and ask where the image came from.Spotting AI images
- Deepfake bullyingKnow what to save, who to tell at school and how to respond if a fake image of your child circulates.Deepfake bullying
Talking and privacy
Conversations and data worth protecting
Children copy how adults use technology. A few honest conversations do more than any filter.
- Ask, do not interrogateTry 'show me something cool you made with it' before 'what are you doing on that?'. Curiosity keeps them talking.
- Keep private things privateFull names, school, address, photos of other kids and health details should not be typed into a chatbot.AI and privacy
- Homework help that still teachesEncourage asking for explanations and practice questions, not finished answers.Study without cheating
- Homeschooling with AIIf you teach at home, here is how families are using AI tools carefully.Homeschooling
Prompts
Conversation starters
Questions to ask your child, and one prompt to use together on a shared device.
- Ask your child
If a chatbot told you something that sounded wrong, how would you find out whether it was true?
- Ask your child
If a video of someone you know said something strange, what is the first thing you would do?
- Use together
Explain how [topic from homework] works as if I were ten. Then ask me three questions to see whether I understood.
- Agree as a family
What is one thing we never type into a chatbot, and who do we tell if something online feels wrong?
Want more? Browse the prompt library.
Go deeper
More to read and use
FAQ
Questions parents ask
- Is AI safe for my child?
- It depends on the tool, the age and how it is used. Check the age requirements and settings of any app, stay involved, and keep private information out of chats. Our guides cover companion apps, parental controls and children's online safety laws.
- How do I protect my family from voice-clone scams?
- Agree on a family code word, hang up on urgent requests for money or secrecy, and call back on a number you already have. Our voice-clone scam guide goes through it step by step.
- How can I tell if an image or video is AI-generated?
- There is no perfect check. Look for odd details and check the source, ask where it first appeared and compare with trusted reporting. Teach children to pause before sharing.
- What should my child never tell a chatbot?
- Full name, address, school, passwords, photos of other people and health or family details. Treat chatbot conversations as not fully private.
- Does AI Understanding cost anything?
- No. Guides and quizzes are free for everyone. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on AI education.
Free, because education should be
AI Understanding is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our guides, quizzes and AI tutor are free to use, with no account needed to read. If this helped, you can support the work.